Telegraph transmitter



Filed Feb. 4. 1955 Fign ffy# /W H. JAHN ETAL 2,877,301 TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER March 1o, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 4, 1955 mitter contact member.

United States Patent O TELEGRAPH TRANSMITTER .Herbert Jahn, Fritz Reinecke, Robert Stabenau, and Horst Stahl, lMunich, Germany, assignors to Siemens & Halske Aktiengesellschaft, Munich, Germany, a corporation vof Germany This invention is concerned with a telegraph transmitter, especially a start-stopA teleprinter transmitter for transmitting impulse groups over a common transmitter contact arrangement comprising a single movable trans- A further such contact member may be provided in case of dual current operation.

It is in such transmitter system known to provide cam-controlled preset members, for example, successively releasable levers for scanning keyed selector rods and to have these levers not act directly upon contact members but to utilize them for respectively presetting a frame "which is common thereto and also a hammerlike lever coupled with the frame and provided with an adjusting edge. This hammerlike lever is by' a further cam disk re- -leased in step with the signals ina direction perpendicular Yto the direction of its setting motion. Its controlled mo- `tions serve for tilting a lever which is biased in a normal position and provided with a transmitter contact.

The object of the invention is to improve transmitters of the type provided with a transmitter contact arrangement common to all telegraph signal elements and actuated at each switching-over corresponding to a telegraph signal element by cam operated control members, so far as the time duration is concerned, while the direction of `motion is under the control of pre-setting members which in turn depends on selection members. In case of an arrangement for the five-code alphabet, a sixth cam may be provided together with an associated setting member for the start and stop steps which always remain the Same.

The invention provides a control member for actuating a switching member of the transmitter contact arrangement at each switching-over operation, said control member being in controlled coupling with a control cam, the actuation of the switching member being effected over a common intermediate member which is by a selection member always preset into the space or mark position.

lThe arrangement requires very few structural parts; the

compact control holds distortion of the individual signals vat a minimum; no particularly strict requirements have to be met in the production of the control members.

In accordance with another featureof the invention,

l'the preset transmission member is for the selection of the mark and space steps corresponding to the position of the common intermediate member formed in such a manner that inaccuracies in its setting remain without adverse eiect on the length or duration of a mark step.

In `accordance with a further feature of the invention, the common intermediate member may be coupled with one or more movable contacts of a normal contact spring set so as to obtain a particularly chatter-free contact operation.

In accordance with another object and feature, the lpreset intermediate member may be movably connected with a switching member which is adapted for direct control o'fthe transmittercontact 'or contacts. If desired,

Patented Mar. 10, 1959 f, ICC

such `switching member maybe movably fastenedion'the cam controlled member for .setting the transmitter 'contact or contacts.

In accordance with a .further object, a friction brake may be provided for the Vswitching member which controls the transmitter contact lor contacts. Such vfriction brake may be provided with Imeans for `adjusting the brake force. Y

In an arrangement having two selectively .-closable transmitter contact positions, there ymaybe iprovided, ;in accordance with still another object and Ifeature, `a lever for directly controlling two movable contact members, and such lever may be relative to the contact Vmembers so constructed and arrangedthat .the spring of the `movable contact point which does not engage .its coacting contact point always forms a rest position with the associated lever arm.

The foregoing and additional objects and features will be brought outr in the description which is rendered below with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings showing two embodiments. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 shows in simplified perspective view essential details of a teleprinter transmitter according to the invention, the corresponding parts being illustrated yin one working position; and

Fig. 2 is a similar perspective view showing moditications of certain parts of the structure illustrated in Fig. 1.

The apparatus shown inFig. `1 comprises a transmitter shaft 1 which executes one1revolution foreach signal to vbe transmitted. This shaft carries six cams 2 with similarly formed but mutually angularly displaced cam valleys. Only one such cam 2 has been shown for simplicity. To each such cam is allotted a preset .lever 3. The levers 3 are rotatably journalled on a shaft 4 and eachis held in engagement with its associated cam'by la spring 5. The cams 2 are so displaced one relative 'to the other that only one of the levers 3 can at any time execute a swinging motion in clockwise direction into the position in which the lever 3 is shown inthe 'drawing. This motion is, however, executed by five of the six levers 3 only at a time when a selection rod 6 to be scanned by the corresponding lever has been .set so v.that it has freed the path for the displacement ofthe corresponding lever. Five of the levers 3 are provided for the transmission of the five signal steps serving a signal and the sixth lever serves for the start and stop steps.

A bracketlike intermediate lever .'l is pivotally journalled on a bolt 8 and biased in counterclockwise direction by a spring 9. The bolt 8 s carried upon a holder 10 which is xedly connected with a switch-over shaft 11. The shaft 11 and also the shaft 1 are `rotatably journalled in suitable structural parts of the frame of the transmitter; such structural parts have been omitted to keep ithe drawing simple. The intermediate lever 7 carries extensions 7a and 7b which are displaced one relative to the other in such a manner that one is positioned in the path of a further cam controlled bracket 12 inone end position while the other extension is disposed in the path of such bracket in the other end position. The bracket `12 is pivotally journalled upon axedly disposed shaft 131 and is held in engagement with a cam 15 provided ,with seven projections uniformly distributed over its circumference, the cam disk 15 being disposed upon ,the shaft 1. Bend-over ears 12a and 12b of the bracket 12 are disposed so that they are respectively positioned oppositevthe extensions 7a and 7b.

The switch-over shaft 11 carries in addition to the holder 10 for the intermediate lever 7 a double-armed lever 16 which is made of insulating material and acts as a contact switching member. The .ends ofthis lever are formed by arcuate portions 16a,.and.16b which are of different size and are .interconnected by a portion -hay -other end position thereof.

, i 3 ing an oblique surface. Two contact spring sets 17 and 18 coact with the lever 16. These contact spring sets are so disposed that one opens while the other closes responsive to rotation of the shaft 11 from one to the This arrangement permits use of the transmitter for direct transmission of dual current signals. For single current operation, one of these contact spring sets remains unconnected or may be removed. In the latter case, a securing spring may take the place of the removed contact set for aiding in securing the position of the shaft 11.

If the friction between the springs of the contact sets 17 and 18 and the lever 16 does not sutiice for braking the motion of the shaft 11 and securing its position, a preferably adjustable brake may be provided, comprising a disk 19 which is rigidly connected -with the shaft 11.

At each side of this disk is disposed a felt member 20 and these members may be pressed against the disk 19 by means of two plates 21 and screws 23 carrying adjusting springs 22. Recesses are formed in the plates 21 for receiving a Xedly mounted pin y24 so as to hold these plates against rotation.

The operation is as follows: The selection rods 6 are set, for example, by key-oper- -ated levers, so that they are disposed either in the -position shown in the drawing or somewhat to the left of such position in the path of the associated preset lever 3. When the transmitter shaft 1 is rotated, the levers -3 are successively positioned with their extensions 3a vin the cam valleys of the respectively associated cam disk 2. Now, if the selection rod 6 of the first combinaftion step that is to'be considered here does not block the axis 8. While the extension 7a of the intermediate t lever was -previouslydisposed above the ear 12a of the bracket-like control member 12, the extension 7b will now come to lie above the ear 12b. As soon as the `.presetting of the intermediate lever 7 is completed by the operation of the lever 3, an extension 12e which is kept in engagement with the cam disk 1S by the spring 14 comes to lie on the rising flank and finally upon a cam projection of the disk 15. The control member 12 which is in this manner moved clockwise about the axis 13 tilts by means of the ear 12b the intermediate lever 7, thereby tilting the extension 7b and `therewith the holder and the shaft 11 with the double- 'arm lever 16, from the illustrated position so that the end of the Contact spring 17 which is in the space posiltion, moves from the arcuate portion 16a of the insulating lever 16 over the oblique surface to the arcuate portion 16h having a greater radius, thereby closing the associated contact. The end of the contact spring 18,

- however, which has been until now in the mark position, leaves at the same time the camming surface 16b having a greater radius and slides over the neighboring oblique surface to the transition point of this surface with the arcuate portion of smaller radius. In

Athis manner is obtained by means of the Contact spring -that happens to be in the space position, on the one hand a switching-over of the pair of contacts and on the other hand a certain control over the motion of the insulating lever 16 as it moves into its end position. The friction brake 19 to 23 may be provided for ad ditionally securing the switch-over lever 16 against undesired displacement.

If the selection rod 6 is at an assumed combination A step in the left'position, the lever with its extension 3a cannotv fall Ainto the cam valley upon reaching it;

.4 the levers 3 and 7 therefore retain their normal positions. As mentioned before, the extension 7a thereby assumes a position abovey the ear 12a. If the switchover lever 16 has assumed the illustrated position before, the parts 7, 10, 11 and 16 and therefore the contacts 17 and 18 are not displaced. Otherwise, these parts are moved so that the contacts 17 assume the space position and the contacts 18 the mark position. In the arrangement according to Fig. 2, the transmitter shaft 31 again carries six carns 32 which are formed in the manner described in connection with the cam 2 of Fig. 1. Associated with each of these cams is again a preset lever 33. All the levers 33 are rotatably journalled upon a shaft 34 and each is held in engagement with its associated cam by a spring 35. The levers 33 can as in the previously described example follow the cams 32, depending upon the position of the associated selection rods 36, or they may be prevented from following their cam disks. A bracket 38 is pivoted about shaft 37, all the levers 33 being in engagement with such bracket by means of their arms 33a. The bracket is biased in the direction of these lever arms by means of a spring 39. An arm 38a extends from the bracket 3S which is bent over and lies between two legs of a V-shaped intermediate lever 40. This intermediate lever is linked with a lever 41 which is cam controlled and also pivots about the shaft 34. The lever 41 is biased by a spring 42 for control by a cam 43 disposed upon the shaft 31, such cam having seven projections uniformly distributed about its circumference.

Facing the free ends 40u-and 40b of the intermediate lever 40 are the bent-over ears 44a and 44b of a lever 44 pivoted about the shaft 45 which is rigidly connected with a lever 46 acting as a switchover member and being likewise carried by the shaft 4S. This lever 46 is adapted to lift in the illustrated position a contact spring 47 carrying a contact point 48 relative to the contact point 49. Another movable contact 50 engages in the illustrated position a contact 51. A frictional brake 52 which may be constructed in a similar 'manner as described in connection with the iirst example, prevents the switchover lever and therewith the movable contacts to leave their set positions inadvertently.

The arrangement shown in Fig. 2 operates as follows:

The selection rods 36 are longitudinally movable. For the sake of simplification, only one of these rods and only one of the preset levers 33 have been shown. In the illustrated position, the selection rod is in its left end position. A double-armed lever 54 thereby blocks the lever 33, by the position assumed by a switching lever 53 which is coupled with it, against falling into the cam valley of the associated cam 32 when the transmitter shaft 31 iS rotated as described in connection with Fig. l. The free end 40a of the V-shaped intermediate lever 40 thereby comes to lie under the end 44a ,of the lever 44. Now, when the lever 41 is in the next instance raised by the cam 43, the lever end 40a will engage the ear 44a and tilt the shaft 45 and therewith the switch-over lever 46 into the other end position in which it moves the spring 55 to the left, thereby lifting the contact S0 from engagement with contact 51. The contacts 48, 49 are at the same time closed.

lf the next successive presetting lever 33 can fall into the valley of its associated cam 32, due to corresponding setting of the respective selection rod, the spring 35 will rotate this lever, moving its arm 33a counterclockwise to the left. The bracket 38 is thereby moved clockwise against the force of the spring 39, and the arm 38a accordingly moves the V-shaped intermediate lever 40 by some amount counterclockwise. When the lever 41 is thereupon raised by the cam 43, it will raise the V-shaped lever 40 and the end 4Gb of this lever will engage the ear 44b of the lever 44. The lever- 46 is in this manner returned to the illustrated position. The contacts .likewise assume their illustrated positions. The friction 4brake 52 may be provided to take care of holding the switchover lever 46 in its assumed position after the lever 44 is freed by the intermediate lever 40.

The invention may be realized in different manner. The common intermediate member, instead of being controlled by a cam, may be actuated at each revolution by another equivalent mechanism. The presetting intermediate member may be differently constructed and arranged. For example, a bracket actuated by the preset lever and taking over the functions of the inter-mediate lever of the first described example, may be rotatably disposed in the bracket 12. in this case, a double-armed lever will be provided upon the switch-over shaft 11 in place of the holder l for the transmission of motion from the bracket which functions as an intermediate lever.

Changes may accordingly be made within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

We claim:

l. A telegraph transmitter comprising transmitter contact means common to all telegraph signal elements, a switching element for actuating said transmitter contact means, a control member for governing the actuation of said switching member, an intermediate member for governing the operation of said control member, a pair of arms carried by and extending respectively from said control member and from said intermediate member, the arms of one pair extending respectively for edgewise intersecting position relative to the corresponding arms of the other pair, one of said pairs of arms being pivotally related to the member carrying the same, preset levers respectively governed by selection rods for rocking said pivotal pair of arms to dispose one arm thereof in edgewise intersecting position relative to the corresponding arm of the pair associated with the other member, rotating cams for respectively actuating said preset levers, a. control cam rotatable with said rotating cams, and link means actuated by said control cam, said link means being coupled with said pivotal pair of arms to displace the same so as to cause the arm thereof which had been positioned for cooperation with the corresponding arm of the other member to actuate said intermediate member for the purpose of moving said switching element to -actuate said contact means.

2. A structure and cooperation of parts as defined in claim l, comprising means for maintaining said link means directly movably coupled with said control cam and said intermediate member in all positions thereof.

3. A structure and cooperation of parts as defined in claim 1, wherein said transmitter contact means comprises sets of contact springs, including movable contact springs, means for coupling said control member with said movable contact springs, and means for maintaining said link means directly movably coupled with said control cam and said intermediate member in all positions thereof.

4. A structure and cooperation of parts as defined in claim l, wherein said transmitter Contact means comprises sets of contact springs, including movable contact springs, means for coupling said control member With said movable contact springs, means for maintaining said link means directly movably coupled with said control cam and said intermediate member in all positions thereof, a rst tiltable shaft carrying said switching member, and a second shaft arranged at an angle to the axis of said first shaft for rotatably carrying said intermediate member.

5. A structure and cooperation of parts as defined in claim l, comprising friction brake means for controlling the displacement of said switching member.

6. A structure and cooperation of parts as defined in claim l, comprising friction brake means for controlling the displacement of said switching member, and means for adjusting the brake force of said friction brake.

7. A structure and cooperation of parts as defined in claim l, comprising a movable lever constituting said switching member, said transmitter contact means comprising movable contact springs in engagement with said lever, one of said movable contact springs the contact point of which is not in engagement with a cooperating contact point holding said lever in resting position thereof. y

8. A structure and cooperation of parts as defined in -claim l, comprising a movable lever constituting said Switching member, said transmitter contact means comprising movable contact springs in engagement with said lever, one of said movable contact springs the contact point of which is not in engagement with a cooperating contact point holding said lever in resting position thereof, means carried by said lever forming cylindrical surfaces of different radii constituting control surfaces for the actuation of said movable contact springs, an oblique surface extending between said cylindrical surfaces, said movable contact springs comprising a crimped portion for `coaction with said control surfaces, the crimped portion of the contact spring engaging in mark position the cylindrical surface of greater radius, the crimped surface of the contact spring which engages in space position the cylindrical surface of smaller radius and its adjacent portion holding said lever against displacement by engagement with the oblique surface thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,691,062 Gubisch Oct. 5, 1954 

